2 Corinthians 11:21-12:10 (English Standard Version)

²¹To my shame, I must say,^(A) we were too weak for that!

   

   But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. ²²Are they Hebrews?^(B) So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. ²³Are they^(C) servants of Christ?^(D) I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors,^(E) far more imprisonments,^(F) with countless beatings, and^(G) often near death. ²⁴Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the^(H) forty lashes less one. ²⁵Three times I was^(I) beaten with rods.^(J) Once I was stoned. Three times I^(K) was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; ²⁶on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers,^(L) danger from my own people,^(M) danger from Gentiles,^(N) danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; ^27(O) in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night,^(P) in hunger and thirst, often without food,^[a] in cold and exposure. ²⁸And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for^(Q) all the churches. ^29(R) Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

 ^30(S) If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ^31(T) The God and Father of the Lord Jesus,^(U) he who is blessed forever,^(V) knows that I am not lying. ³²At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas^(W) was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, ^33(X) but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

2 Corinthians 12

Paul’s Visions and His Thorn

 ¹I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and^(Y) revelations of the Lord. ²I know a man^(Z) in Christ who fourteen years ago was^(AA) caught up to^(AB) the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know,^(AC) God knows. ³And I know that this man was caught up into^(AD) paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know,^(AE) God knows— ⁴and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. ⁵On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast,^(AF) except of my weaknesses. ⁶Though if I should wish to boast,^(AG) I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. ⁷So^(AH) to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,^[b](AI) a thorn was given me in the flesh,^(AJ) a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. ^8(AK) Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹But he said to me, ^(AL) "My grace is sufficient for you, for^(AM) my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that^(AN) the power of Christ may rest upon me. ^10(AO) For the sake of Christ, then,^(AP) I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For^(AQ) when I am weak, then I am strong.